On July 31, 2023 at 8 a.m., the Yuma County Board of Commissioners met in regular session. Chairman Scott Weaver, Commissioner Mike Leerar, Commissioner Adam Gates, and Administrator Brandi Ritchey were present throughout the day.
The Commissioners reviewed and signed accounts payable and discussed various meetings attended throughout the prior month.
Deputy County Clerk Nancy Wright joined the Commissioners at 8:15 a.m. to present for signature a Special Liquor Permit for the Vernon Volunteer Fire department; which was approved at the July 17, 2023 BOCC Meeting.
Road & Bridge Supervisor Tom Andersen and Justin Lorimar joined the meeting at 8:30 a.m. to provide department updates. The group discussed mowing operations, grader efficiency reports and the road report. The Road & Bridge Department will be installing speed limit signs on County Road RR and SS to minimize road damage and control traffic. A salary authorization for a maintenance position was approved by unanimous vote.
The Board of County Commissioners convened as the Board of Social Services at 9:30 a.m. Human Services Director Kara Hoover and Administrative Assistant Lori Summers were present. Detailed minutes of the Board of Social Services are maintained separately by the Department of Human Services.
The Board of County Commissioners reconvened at 10:30 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., Jennifer Jones and Cathy Welp joined the Commissioners for program updates. Renew Recycling is a group of dedicated volunteers that help divert recyclable materials from the Yuma County Landfill. Renew Recycling is requesting a donation to help with the costs of transporting recyclables, maintenance and re-occurring costs that it takes to keep the program going. The Commissioners thanked the group for all of the efforts Renew Recycling has put into keeping recyclables out of the landfill. Commissioner Leerar moved to donate $1,000 to Renew Recycling for operating costs. Commissioner Gates seconded the motion. It passed by a unanimous vote.
At 11 a.m., Richard Ruyle and Daryl Juhnke joined the Commissioners for Public Comment. Yuma County Clerk, Beverly Wenger was present as well. Ruyle expressed concerns with voting equipment used for elections. Wenger expressed there is bi-partisan testing many times on the equipment before elections to ensure the integrity of the elections.
At 11:30 a.m. the Commissioners heard a department update from Yuma County Emergency Manager Jake Rockwell and Maintenance Sergeant, Travis Dinsmore. Among topics discussed were fire and weather reports. Rockwell discussed generators held at different locations for emergency scenarios. The Commissioners suggested that Rockwell contact the Sheriff’s Department to discuss the generators.
County Land Use Administrator, Niki Alexander was heard at 1 p.m. to review Land Use and GIS reports. The group discussed ongoing Land Use Applications, Legislative Land Use Bills and Land Use Processes.
Administrator Brandi Ritchey reviewed calls, correspondence, and presented the following for discussion and action: The Commissioners reviewed and approved the minutes from the previous BOCC meetings. The Commissioners heard information on pending CAPP and workers’ compensation claims. The group discussed an ongoing Workers Compensation Claim and hail damage from the recent storms. The commissioners approved signatures on the fair bank account, approved a check for the fair rodeo purse and approved the veteran’s officer monthly report.
The Commissioners received various department reports including an update on the administration of the Eastern Transportation Planning Region, discussion of business undertaken by the 911 Authority Board.
Ritchey provided project updates on the sale of a county owned property in Wauneta and the group discussed a pending Work Comp Claim. Ritchey presented correspondence received since the last meeting. Among discussion was a memorial for a representative for Governor Hickenlooper’s office. Ritchey presented updates on various IT-related topics including updates on the transition to VOIP phones for county operations. Plains is in the process of running new cable in the courthouse.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. The next regular meetings of the Board of County Commissioners was August 14, 2023. At 1:30 the Yuma County Board of Commissioners adjourned from their regular meeting and held a Work Session with the Yuma County Sheriff Todd Combs, and Kris Jones to discuss jail operations.
